Department to deduct overpayments

By Ncedo Kumbaca

EAST LONDON -- The Eastern Cape Transport Department plans to deduct money it overpaid to its 72 workers since 1996, the department's human resource directorate head Richard Fonte said yesterday.

This follows findings of the government's Human Resource Operational Project Team's (HROPT) audit, which was aimed at correcting the salary position of government employees.

The audit process revealed that 72 workers of the provincial Transport Department were overpaid with effect from July 1, 1996, while the majority of department workers were underpaid.

All the overpaid workers were given letters asking them to provide written submissions, if any, to department head Zola Gebeda within 14 days.

In their submissions, these workers were asked to include their response to the results of the auditing process and any facts and circumstances that they considered ought to be placed before the department in respect of their salary positions.

This would be followed by a review of the auditing process and the affected workers' response.

"If the information is correct, the department will deduct the money from their salaries. They can even bring their labour organisations, we are open to discussion," said Fonte.

One of the affected employees, who refused to be named, earns R71502 per annum. According to the new salary position, she will earn R57 402 per annum.

She received a letter saying that she owed R69 352,56.

"I am a single mother of two children and I have health problems. How can a person drop R20 000 per annum in their salary?" she asked.

"I have bought things according to my budget," she said.